If, during the past 21 days, you have returned from a trip to someplace other than Canada, the continental United States or Europe, you cannot give blood for three weeks (21 days) following the date on which you returned.

This measure concerns not only the risks associated with the Zika virus, but also other similar viruses. It applies in particular to Dengue fever and Chikungunya.

The Zika virus is transmitted principally by means of a mosquito bite.

The Center for Disease Control has indicated that the Zika virus can be transmitted by blood. The agency has also identified a transmission through blood transfusion in Brazil. No case of transmission by transfusion has been reported in Québec.

The two mosquitoes that are vectors for the virus (Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti) are not present in Canada. These two mosquitoes are also the principal vectors for Chikungunya and Dengue fever, two pathogens which Héma-Québec has been monitoring vigilantly for several years.